Spring Lake, Michigan: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  This water sits in Clare County, Michigan. The country round it is rolling bush from end to end. At roughly 15 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. 11 miles away sits Harrison, the nearest town. Evart is 13 miles and Clare 16 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout. The shoreline gives more room than the map suggests.

• Where to Fish on Spring Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Survey and observation records for Clare County include bluegill, largemouth bass and pink salmon. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Anyone new to Spring Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 68°F; by January the average is down near 19°F. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. The lid usually goes in early April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Averages place the thaw at early April and the freeze at mid December. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Spring Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. A ramp is mapped within half a mile. Weting Preserve covers this ground, which means extra rules to check. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Should this one be busy, Windover Lake is 0.8 miles off. The position on Spring Lake is worth confirming on the day.